An al-Qaeda-inspire plot to detonate three pressure-cooker bombs during Monday's Canada Day holiday outside the parliament building in the city of Victoria has been foiled.

A Canadian man and woman were arrested, with police seizing their home-made explosives devices.

Police said there was no evidence to suggest a foreign link to the planned attack, which targeted public celebrations outside the parliament building in Victoria, capital of the province of British Columbia.

They declined to detail any links between the two Canadians and the al Qaeda network. They also said they were not aware of any connection to the April 15 bombings at the Boston Marathon in which three people were killed by devices built from pressure cookers.

A pressure cooker believed to be used for an improvised explosive device that was found outside the legislature building in Victoria B.C (REUTERS)